Publications (58) View all
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Article: Nasolabial dimensions of the facial profile at 20 to 37 weeks' gestation on 2- and 3-dimensional sonography in normal korean fetuses.
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ABSTRACT: Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate normal nasolabial dimensions using the images of facial profiles in normal Korean fetuses. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 355 normal fetuses at 14 to 39 weeks' gestation. After the exclusion of inadequate images and inadequate numbers of fetuses at 14 to 19 and 37 to 39 weeks' gestation, the sonographic facial profiles from 222 fetuses at 20 to 37 weeks' gestation were evaluated. Five parameters, nose length, nose protrusion, pronasal-subnasal distance, distance between the upper philtrum and mouth, and distance between the tip of the nose and mouth, were measured and are presented according to gestational age. Data were analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficients and regression analysis. Results There were significant linear correlations between gestational age and nose length (R = 0.390; P < .001), pronasal-subnasal distance (R = 0.415; P < .001), and distance between the upper philtrum and mouth (R = 0.315; P < .001). There were significant quadratic relationships between gestational age and nose protrusion (R(2) = 0.213; P < .001) and distance between the tip of the nose and mouth (R(2) = 0.173; P < .001). Conclusions We provide preliminary normative nasolabial dimensions of facial profiles at 20 to 37 weeks' gestation in normal Korean fetuses. These data may be of help not only in the understanding of normal nasolabial growth in utero but also in the diagnosis of abnormal facial dimensions.Journal of ultrasound in medicine: official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 04/2013; 32(4):617-24. · 1.25 Impact Factor -
Article: Proangiogenic features of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells and their ability to form functional vessels.
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ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells derived from human Wharton's jelly (WJ-MSC) have emerged as a favorable source for autologous and allogenic cell therapy. Here, we characterized the proangiogenic features of WJ-MSCs and examined their ability to form functional vessels in in vivo models. First, we examined whether WJ-MSCs express endothelial and smooth muscle cell specific markers after culture in endothelial growth media. WJ-MSCs expressed an endothelial specific marker, VEGFR1, at mRNA and protein levels, but did not express other specific markers (VEGFR2, Tie2, vWF, CD31, and VE-cadherin). Rather, WJ-MSCs expressed smooth muscle cell specific markers, α-SMA, PDGFR-β and calponin, and were unable to form tube-like structures with lumen on Matrigel. WJ-MSCs secreted growth factors including angiogenin, IGFBP-3, MCP-1, and IL-8, which stimulated endothelial proliferation, migration, and tube formation. When WJ-MSCs suspended in Matrigel were implanted into nude mice, it led to formation of functional vessels containing erythrocytes after 7 days. However, implantation of endothelial cell-suspended Matrigel resulted in no perfused vessels. The implanted WJ-MSCs were stained positively for calponin or PDGFR-β and were located adjacent to the lining of mouse endothelial cells that were stained with labeled BS-lectin B4. In a murine hindlimb ischemia model, the transplantation of MSCs (5×10(5)cells) into the ischemic limbs improved perfusion recovery and neovascularization of the limbs compared to control group. Therefore, the results suggest that WJ-MSCs promote neovascularization and perfusion by secreting paracrine factors and by functioning as perivascular precursor cells, and that WJ-MSCs can be used efficiently for cell therapy of ischemic disease.The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology 12/2012; · 4.89 Impact Factor -
Article: Obstructive sleep apnea screening and perinatal outcomes in Korean pregnant women.
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ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: This study was intended to evaluate the attributable risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by a sleep questionnaire to adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This was a prospective, cohort study in Korean pregnant women. Berlin questionnaire was employed for symptom-based OSA screening during the third trimester and obstetric outcome data were obtained in 276 deliveries. The relationship between symptom-based OSA and outcomes were explored using SPSS version 18.0 and stratified by obesity (BMI strata <30 and ≥30). Our primary outcome was the compound occurrence of SGA (fetal) or preeclampsia (maternal). Multivariate models were applied in controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of OSA was 32.2 % and it was significantly related with the higher maternal BMI, more body weight at delivery, and weight gain during pregnancy (p = 0.007, p = 0.003, p = 0.005, respectively). There were no significant differences in the primary outcomes according to the positivity of OSA by screening, regardless of the stratification by obesity. The cesarean delivery rate was significantly higher in the OSA positive group (36.0 vs 22.5 %, p = 0.018), but it was not significant in the each strata of obesity. In multivariate analysis, the outcomes of birth weight, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and small for gestational age were also not different according to the positivity of OSA. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the prevalence of OSA by a sleep questionnaire is overestimating OSA in Korean pregnant women. Polysomnography might be needed to diagnose OSA and to evaluate the relationship between OSA and the occurrence of SGA or preeclampsia.Archives of Gynecology 10/2012; · 0.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Gene expression pattern of human chorion-derived mesenchymal stem cells during adipogenic differentiation.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to identify the adipocyte-specific gene expression patterns in chorion-derived mesenchymal stem cells during adipogenic differentiation. Chorionic cells were isolated from the third trimester chorions from human placenta at birth and identified morphologically and by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. After inducing adipogenic differentiation for 28 days, cells at days 3, 10, 21 and 28 were analyzed by Oil red O staining and RNA extraction in order to assess the expression levels of adipocyte marker genes, including CCAAT-enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) and Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD2). Cells not induced for differentiation were compared with the induced cells as a control group. Chorion-derived cells showed the same pattern as fibroblasts, and expressed CD73, CD105, and CD166 antigens, but not CD45, CD34, and HLA-DR antigens. On day 3 after differentiation, cells began to stain positively upon Oil red O staining, and continuously increased in lipid granules for 4 weeks. The expression level of C/EBPα increased 4.6 fold on day 3 after induction, and continued to increase for 4 weeks. PPARγ was expressed at a maximum of 2.9 fold on day 21. FABP4 and GPD2 were significantly expressed at 4.7- and 3.0-fold, respectively, on day 21, compared to controls, and further increased thereafter. Human chorion-derived mesenchymal stem cells exhibited the sequential expression pattern of adipocyte marker genes during differentiation, corresponding to adipogenesis.Yonsei medical journal 09/2012; 53(5):1036-44. · 0.77 Impact Factor -
Article: Usefulness of additional fetal magnetic resonance imaging in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital abnormalities.
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare the value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with detailed ultrasound in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of pregnant women and their neonates who, after ultrasound, were suspected to have congenital abnormalities. They then underwent a detailed ultrasound examination and a fetal MRI in our institutions. Fetal MRI was performed in 81 cases. Each prenatal presumptive diagnosis, based on detailed ultrasound examination and fetal MRI, was compared with the postnatal confirmed diagnosis. In 58 cases, the data collected were confirmed by the postnatal diagnosis. RESULTS: Supplemental information from fetal MRI was useful in 17 of the 22 cases involving the central nervous system (CNS), two of two cases involving the thorax, nine of nine cases involving the genitourinary system, two of eight cases involving the gastrointestinal system, and ten of ten cases involving complex malformations. Fetal MRI did not provide significantly useful information or facilitate a more accurate diagnosis except for CNS abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Fetal MRI was not superior to an ultrasound examination in the prenatal detection of congenital abnormalities. A detailed ultrasound examination performed by experienced obstetricians had satisfactory accuracy in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities compared with fetal MRI. Fetal MRI might be useful in appropriate cases in Korea. Greater effort is required to increase the ultrasound knowledge and skill of competent obstetricians.Archives of Gynecology 08/2012; · 0.91 Impact Factor
